The Men’s Senior Team and Women’s Under 17 programme football kept the coaching staffs attached to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association fully active on Saturday as both sets of programmes stepped into gear at Larry Gomes and Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
Dennis Lawrence and his staff put a 26-man squad through their paces in a morning session in Arima as they continue their preparations for the International Friendly on Friday against Barbados at the Ato Boldon Stadium. And down south, Director of Women’s Football Carolina Morace and her staff spent the evening registering players for Under 17 screening prior to a training session at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium training pitch.
Some fifty players were present as Under 20 Women’s head coach Manuella Tesse, a former Italian international observed the players with support from Morace and Nicola Williams. Joanne Daniel has also been added as a support coach.
Regarding the senior team selection, Lawrence said he will select his final squad by Wednesday for the upcoming friendly.
“The sessions have been very good up to this point. The players have been applying themselves well and putting in the effort that is required at this level,” Lawrence told TTFA Media.
“We had to take into consideration that the players were coming off their season so it was important that we tailored the sessions in a way where we didn’t put the players under tremendous stress. But all in al, we still managed to have some proper sessions which I am satisfied about.
“The coaching staff comprises of knowledgeable people. They are capable of conducting any part of the session. The staff works in units, We divide the sessions to meet the needs on the day. Everyone has been working in tandem an towards a common goal,” Lawrence added.
Midfielder Carlos Edwards was also invited to train with the Senior Team and took part in Saturday’s session.
Morace meantime, said she the women’s programme was in full motion.
“Today we started the Under 17 programme as we have already began with the senior and under 20 women and there are sessions taking place throughout the week. There is a lot of interest in the game here and we feel very good about that. Of course there is a lot of work to be done and our coaching staff is paying close attention to the various needs in terms of development, preparation and the general approach to training and playing,” Morace said.